Test cricket is one of the better exponents of respecting its traditions and honouring its history.

But unfortunately, by doing so, it can also sometimes shoot itself in the foot.

A classic example arrived late on the final day of the opening Australia v India Test at Bangalore.

With Australia pressing for (an albeit unlikely) victory, the umpires offered bad light to Indian batsmen Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

With a draw or an Australian win the only possible options, the Indians were always going to grab the opportunity to run to the dressing room with both hands.

It’s a blight on the game that needs to be fixed.

It short-changes spectators, who have paid their hard-earned to watch a match find its resolution of its own accord.

It frustrates TV viewers and infuriates the side, in this case Australia, who have the most to gain by staying on the field.

While conditions always look brighter watching on television, it didn’t appear that the batsman would be at any risk of injury had play continued.

Former Australian skipper Allan Border said as much while commentating for Fox Sports.

“They’re not in any danger. This has been a bugbear of mine for a while and it needs to be looked at,” AB fumed, or words to that effect.

To me, it seems farcical that the chances of getting a result after five days, no matter how unlikely, can be ended by a few clouds.

The sight of the umpires studying their light metres after every ball was ridiculous.

Most of the time, common sense is the best guide.

At the time, Australia was bowling spin at one end, and pace at the other.

At worst, the umpires should have told Ricky Ponting that he had to use spin at both ends.

I was at a one-dayer at the Gabba not long ago (it was actually Sunshine Coast Scorcher Ashley Noffke’s debut), a match ruined by rain.

Or should I say drizzle. Or heavy dew.

The first time the players were taken from the ground, it wasn’t even raining.

We sat around for 45 minutes before the first drops fell from the sky. And when it did begin raining, you’d have to run around to get wet.

The ICC has to start realising that Test cricket is part of the entertainment industry.

It’s competing not only against other sports, but other leisurely pursuits as well.

In a sense it’s also competing against itself, with Twenty20 cricket proving a raging success and attracting new fans to the game over the past couple of years.

White clothing, old-school manual scoreboards, respect for each other on the field – these are all great cricket traditions, but sometimes the game has to move with the times.

Otherwise, it risks the possibility of being left behind.